Library helper and book storage

ABSTRACT

An item of furniture for a library, the device comprising a ladder for gaining access to the upper shelves of a library, the upper portion of the ladder including several shelves upon which books may be transported and from which the books may be transferred into the library bookcases, and the lower end of the ladder being mounted upon casters so as to be readily movable in front of the library bookcases.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Orville E. Monroe [56] References Cited 4 S. 115 Lincoln Ave., Lisle, Ill. 60532 UNlTED STATES PATENTS I "P 677,052 6/190] Baumer 182/33 [22] Filed June 23, l969 I45] patented Jul 6 2,798,652 7/l957 Easton l82/l29 y 3,l50,743 9/1964 Kirchhoefer 182/129 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado ABSTRACT: An item of furniture for a library, the device [54] Z S BOOK STOKAGE comprising a ladder for gaining access to the upper shelves of a library, the upper portion of the ladder including several [52] US. (I 182/ 129 shelves upon which books may be transported and from which (5 l] Int. Cl. E06c 7/14 the books may be transferred into the library bookcases, and {50] Field of Search 182/ l 29, the lower end of the ladder being mounted upon casters so as l 16, 33 to be readily movable in front of the library bookcases.

LIBRARY HELPER AND BOOK STORAGE This invention relates generally to'library furniture.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved library ladder having having self-contained means to support a number of volumes of books in a convenient manner so that the same may be transferred therefrom and the upper shelves of a library bookcase.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a library helper and a book storage which incorporates a stepladder mounted upon casters so that the same may be moved along the front of the library bookcase so to gainaccess to different portions thereof.

Yet another object of the present invention serves to provide a library helper and book storage which includes a plurality of shelves on top of the ladder so as to support in a convenient manner a large quantity of the books.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a library helper and a book storage which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is the sole FIGURE of the invention and is a perspective view of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 represents a library helper and book storage according to the present invention wherein there is a stepladder unit II at the lower end thereof, the stepladder unit being surmounted by a book shelf unit 12.

The stepladder unit II is comprised of ladder 13 formed of vertical runners 14 between which there are a plurality of steps 15, the upper end of the runners being surmounted by a platform 16. The platfonn 16 is relatively broader in a forward direction so as to provide a convenient place upon which to stand while a person is working on the higher shelves of a library bookcase.

The shelf unit 12 is comprised of a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls 17 between which there are provided a lower bookshelf 18, an intermediate bookshelf l9, and upon the upper end of which there is removably mounted an upper bookshelf 20 of relatively greater length. The lower ends of the sidewalls l7 are integral with a pair of downwardly extending legs 21, the lower end of the legs 2] and the lower end of the runners 14 having wheeled casters 22 secured thereto so as to allow the device to be easily pushed along a floor of a library.

It is to be noted that the sidewall 17 and the forward legs 21 of the device need not necessarily be made of a single part but may be made separate if so preferred by a manufacturer. lf madeseparately, it will be obvious that the shelf unit 12 may be made removable from the ladder unit ll such as by the removal of a wing nut 23 from bolts 24 that are used for en gaging the two units together.

ln operative use, the device may be pushed along the front of a library bookcase and a person may easily mount the ladder steps to the platform 16 where he may place books between the shelves l8, l9 and 20 to the library bookcase shelves. The top shelf 20 may be readily removed when desired for easy portability and storage.

lclaim:

1. In a library helper and book storage, the combination of a stepladder unit and a shelf unit, said shelf unit being surmounted upon said stepladder unit, and said shelf unit comprising a means for supporting a plurality of book volumes at a raised elevation for conveniently moving the same therebetween and the upper shelves of a library bookcase, said stepladder unit comprising a ladder formed by a pair of vertically extending runners between which there are a plurality of steps, the upper ends of said runners being surmounted by a platform, said platform being of relatively greater length forwardly to form a convenient storage upon which a tperson may stand while working on the upper said shelves 0 said bookcase, said shelf unit being comprised of a pair of vertically extending spaced-apart sidewalls between which there are a lower book shelf and an intermediate book shelf, the upper ends of said sidewalls being surmounted by a removable upper book shelf of relatively greater length mounted transversely upon said shelf unit and accordingly extending at each opposite end in overhanging relation over the sidewalls of said shelf unit, said upper book shelf accordingly comprising a widest member of said library helper and book storage, the lower ends of said sidewalls being integral with a pair of forward legs,'the lower ends of said legs and the lower ends of said runners being provided with wheeled casters, a forward end of said platform being secured to a pair of forward legs, the lower ends of said legs and the lower ends of said runners being provided with wheeled casters, and said shelf unit being removably secured upon said platform by means of bolts and wing nuts. 

1. In a library helper and book storage, the combination of a stepladder unit and a shelf unit, said shelf unit being surmounted upon said stepladder unit, and said shelf unit comprising a means for supporting a plurality of book volumes at a raised elevation for conveniently moving the same therebetween and the upper shelves of a library bookcase, said stepladder unit comprising a ladder formed by a pair of vertically extending runners between which there are a plurality of steps, the upper ends of said runners being surmounted by a platform, said platform being of relatively greater length forwardly to form a convenient storage upon which a person may stand while working on the upper said shelves of said bookcase, said shelf unit being comprised of a pair of vertically extending spaced-apart sidewalls between which there are a lower book shelf and an intermediate book shelf, the upper ends of said sidewalls being surmounted by a removable upper book shelf of relatively greater length mounted transversely upon said shelf unit and accordingly extending at each opposite end in overhanging relation over the sidewalls of said shelf unit, said upper book shelf accordingly comprising a widest member of said library helper and book storage, the lower ends of said sidewalls being integral with a pair of forward legs, the lower ends of said legs and the lower ends of said runners being provided with wheeled casters, a forward end of said platform being secured to a pair of forward legs, the lower ends of said legs and the lower ends of said runners being provided with wheeled casters, and said shelf unit being removably secured upon said platform by means of bolts and wing nuts. 